Earlier studies reported that the occurrence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is associated with chronic metabolic disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Instead of focusing on the relationship between SSNHL and each metabolic disorder, this study aimed to identify the association with metabolic syndrome as a whole, including either prehypertension or prediabetes. As a case-control study, we reviewed 239 patients who experienced SSNHL, and compared them with the same number of healthy subjects (N = 478). Metabolic syndrome-related variables of SSNHL patients were compared to those of healthy control subjects. In addition, patients with SSNHL were classified into two subgroups: the first subgroup showed improvement in hearing (‘response group’), and the second did not present significant improvement (‘non-response group’). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The risk for SSNHL was 4.3 times higher in patients with metabolic syndrome compared with patients without the syndrome (95% confidence interval, 1.98 to 9.33), even after adjusting for variables that showed significant between-group differences. The likelihood of being unresponsive to treatment was higher in those with metabolic syndrome (1.21 to 3.93; adjusted odds ratio = 2.18), and when the initial hearing loss pattern on a pure-tone audiometry was high tone or flat. Metabolic syndrome appears to be an independent risk factor for SSNHL and, simultaneously, a predictor of poor prognosis.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence trend of metabolic syndrome among Korean adolescents and to examine the effect of changes in dietary components on metabolic syndrome components. It has used the data of children and adolescents (8718 subjects aged 10–18) from the National Health and Nutrition Survey IV-VII (KNHANES 2007–2018) to estimate the recent prevalence of MetS and identify related nutritional factors. The definition of MetS used modified NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria. The prevalence of MetS among Korean adolescents in 2007–2018 was 4.6% using the modified NCEP-ATP III criteria, and the trend of MetS increased significantly (p trend = 0.02). In the overweight and obese groups, the risk of MetS increased 7.08 (95% CI, 5.19–9.79) and 27.13 (95% CI, 20.90–35.24) compared to the normal-weight group. During KNHANES IV-VII, overall caloric intake increased, carbohydrate and sodium intake decreased, but fat intake increased (KNHANE-IV; 21.3% to VII; 24.0%, p < 0.001). These fat intakes were significantly correlated with an increase in systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and waist circumference. The prevalence of MetS is also increasing in Korean adolescents, and changes in dietary habits are related. In the future, it is also necessary to study the relationship of MetS to lifestyle.

Precocious puberty is divided into gonadotropin-dependent and nondependent types, and cases where the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis is at an early stage have been described as central precocious puberty (CPP). Precocious puberty occurs 5 to 10 times more frequently in girls than in boys, and abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS) often accompany this condition in boys.Brain lesions thought to be organic causes of CPP include hamartoma, glioma, astrocytoma, ependymoma, craniopharyngioma, germinoma of the hypothalamus, hydrocephalus, congenital anomalies, and arachnoid cyst. On the other hand, there are many CNS abnormalities that are not associated with CPP. The prevalence of actual brain tumors or progressive lesions on MRI varies depending on sex, age, and the presence or absence of accompanying symptoms. 1) Incidental detection of benign brain lesions that are not related to the CPP represents approximately 11% of all brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. 2,3) Several researchers have reported the prevalence of CNS abnormalities detected on brain MRI in CPP. [4][5][6] Clinical or laboratory factors that can predict abnormal findings on brain MRI in patients diagnosed with CPP have not yet been identified. Some researchers reported that basal luteinizing hormone (LH) and peak LH were statistically significantly increased when CNS abnormalities were present. 2) Hamartoma is characterized by a high incidence in children under two years of age and significant basal LH and peak LH in hormone tests. Therefore, a clinician needs to make a judgment in consideration of the age and characteristics of the tumor. 3) One more thing to consider, the criteria for pathologic brain lesions vary between studies: caution should be exercised when comparing the prevalence of CNS abnormalities in CPP.In a meta-analysis of 1,853 girls diagnosed with CPP, the percentage of brain MRI abnormalities was 7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5%-10%), of which 25% were in patients under 6 years (95% CI 19%-32%), and 3% were in 6-to 8-year-olds (95% CI, 0%-10%). The most common brain MRI abnormality was hamartoma of the hypothalamus, and the prevalence of brain tumors was 1.6% in all age groups. The onset of puberty before age 6 was the critical risk factor, and the prevalence of CNS disorders decreased with increasing age in girls. 1) In a study conducted by Huynh et al. 7) of Vietnamese girls with CPP, organic CPP was reported to represent 12.5% of cases. Pathological brain findings were detected in 33.3% of girls aged 0-2 years, 15.6% of girls aged 2-6 years, and 3.6% of girls aged 6-8 years. The authors reported a higher prevalence of brain lesions in Vietnamese girls with CPP compared with other relevant studies. Therefore, when deciding whether to perform brain MRI in CPP patients, it is necessary to consider region and race.Recently, the frequency of idiopathic CPP has also increased in boys, [8][9][10] and one report found that 93.2% of boys diagnosed after the age of 8 had no abnormalities in brain MRI. 1...